Unit: 01

People or Institutions Making History

Lesson: 3

Two Women
A. Read the following text on two women of extraordinary achievements and answer the questions that
follow:

Valentina Tereshkova

Valentina Tereshkova was born in a village in Central Russia on 6 March 1937. Her father was a
tractor driver and her mother worked in a textile plant. At the age of eight she began her schooling but
did not enjoy it much. She left the school within a few years. Afterwards she completed her education
through distance learning. She became interested in parachuting from a young age, and trained in
skydiving at the local Aeroclub, making her first jump at age 22 on 21 May 1959. It was her expertise
in skydiving that led to her selection as a cosmonaut.

After the flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human being to travel to outer space in April 1961, the Soviet
Union decided to send a woman in space. On 16 February 1962, proletaria Valentina Tereshkova was
selected for this project from among more than four hundred applicants. Tereshkova had to undergo a
series of training that included weightless flights, isolation tests, centrifuge tests, rocket theory,
spacecraft engineering, 120 parachute jumps and pilot training in MiG-15UTI jet fighters. Since the
successful launch of the spacecraft Vostok-5 on 14 June 1963, Tereshkova began
preparing for her own flight. On the morning of 16 June 1963, Tereshkova and her back-up cosmonaut
Solovyova were dressed in space-suits and taken to the space shuttle launch pad by a bus. After
completing her communication and life support checks, she was sealed inside Vostok 6.
Finishing a two-hour countdown, Vostok-6 launched faultlessly.

to Feel vomit

Although Tereshkova experienced nausea and physical discomfort for much of the flight, she orbited the
earth 48 times and spent almost three days in space. With a single flight, she logged more flight time
than the combined times of all American astronauts who had flown before that date. Tereshkova also
maintained a flight log and took photographs of the horizon, which were later used to identify aerosol
layers within the atmosphere. Vostok-6 was the final Vostok flight and was launched two days after
Vostok-5, which carried Valary Bykovsy into a similar orbit for five days, landing three hours after
Tereshkova. The two vessels approached each other within 5 kilometers at one point, and from space
Tereshkova communicated with Bykovsky and the Soviet leader Khrushchev by radio.

Much later, in 1977 Tereshkova earned a doctorate in Engineering from Zhukovsky Air Force Academy.
(Afterwards she turned to politics. During the Soviet regime she became one of the
presidium members of the Supreme Soviet. Now this living legend is a
member in the lower house of the Russian legislature. On
her 70th birthday when she was invited by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, she expressed
her desire to fly to Mars, even if for a one-way trip. a journey with no return

Note: When it says that She logged "

more flight time than the combined times of all

American astronauts who had flown before that
date," it means that the total duration of Tereshkova's single spaceflight was
longer than the total duration of all the previous spaceflights undertaken by
American astronauts combined.
In other words, if you were to add up the time spent in space by all American astronauts who
had flown before Tereshkova's mission, it would be less than the amount of time she spent in
space during her single flight. This highlights the significant achievement of Tereshkova and
emphasizes that her mission was longer in duration compared to the cumulative time of all the
American astronauts before her.

When it says that Tereshkova "maintained a

flight log and took photographs of the horizon, which
were later used to identify aerosol layers within the
atmosphere," it means that she kept a record of her activities and observations during
her spaceflight, similar to a diary or a logbook. She wrote down important information about
her mission, such as her experiences, measurements, and any notable events.
Additionally, Tereshkova took pictures of the Earth's horizon from space. These photographs
captured the view of the boundary between Earth and space. Scientists and researchers later
used these photographs to study and analyze the presence of aerosol layers in the atmosphere.

Aerosol are tiny particles suspended in the air, such as dust, pollutants, or volcanic ash. By
examining the photographs, scientists could identify and study these aerosol layers, which
provided valuable information about the Earth's atmosphere and its composition.
When it says that "Vostok-6 was the final Vostok
flight and was launched two days after Vostok-5, which carried
Valary Bykovsy into a similar orbit for five days, landing three
hours after Tereshkova," it means the following:

Vostok-6 refers to the name of the spacecraft used for

Tereshkova's mission. It was the last mission of the Vostok series
of spacecraft. Two days prior to Tereshkova's launch, another
spacecraft named Vostok-5 was launched. Vostok-5 carried an
astronaut named Valary Bykovsy.
Both Vostok-5 and Vostok-6 were launched into orbits around the
Earth that were similar to each other. Bykovsy stayed in space for a
duration of five days, while Tereshkova's mission lasted a little less
than three days. However, even though Tereshkova's mission ended
earlier, Bykovsy's spacecraft landed on Earth three hours after
Tereshkova's spacecraft did.
In summary, Vostok-6 was the final mission of the Vostok series, and
it was launched two days after Vostok-5, which carried Bykovsy.
Bykovsy spent more time in space, but Tereshkova's mission ended
earlier, with her spacecraft landing on Earth three hours before
Bykovsy's.

When it says that "the two vessels approached each other

within 5 kilometers at one point, and from space Tereshkova
communicated with Bykovsky and the Soviet leader Khrushchev by radio,"
it means the following:
During their respective space missions, the spacecraft Vostok-5 (carrying
Valary Bykovsy) and Vostok-6 (carrying Tereshkova) came close to each
other while in orbit. They approached each other within a distance of 5
kilometers at a certain point in their paths around the Earth.
Despite being far away from Earth, Tereshkova had the ability to
communicate with Bykovsy and the Soviet leader Khrushchev using radio
technology. They could talk to each other by transmitting and receiving
messages through radio waves. This allowed Tereshkova to have direct
communication with Bykovsy and Khrushchev while they were in space,
exchanging information and possibly receiving instructions or updates .

Kalpana Chawla (17 March 1962 - 1 February 2003)

Chawla was born in Karnal, India. She completed her earlier schooling at a local School.
She is the first Indian-born woman and the second person in space from this sub-
continent) After graduating in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chawla
moved to the United States in 1982. She obtained her Master's degree in Aerospace
Engineering from the University of Texas Later she did her Ph.D. in Aerospace
Engineering from the University of Colorado.

Determined to become an astronaut even in the face of the space shuttle Challenger disaster on 28
January 1986 that led to the deaths of its seven crew members, Chawla joined NASA in 1988. She began
working as a Vice President where she did Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) research on vertical take-

off and landing . In 1991 she got U.S. citizenship and started her
career as a NASA astronaut in 1995. She was selected for her first flight in 1996. She
spoke the following words while travelling in the weightlessness of space, You are just your
intelligence. She had travelled 10.67 million miles, as many as 252 times around the Earth.
Her first space mission (Mission STS 87) began on 19 November 1997 with six other astronauts on the
Space Shuttle Columbia. On her first mission that lasted for 15 days, 16 hours, 34 minutes and
4 seconds, she travelled 6.5 million miles. She was responsible for deploying the Spartan
Satellite which however malfunctioned, necessitating a spacewalk by Winston Scott and Tako Doi, two
of her fellow astronauts, to retrieve the satellite.

In 2000 she was selected for her second space mission STS 107. This mission was repeatedly
delayed due to scheduling conflicts and technical problems. On 16 January 2003, Kalpana Chawla
finally started her new mission with six other space crew on the ill-fated space shuttle
Columbia. She was one of the mission specialists. Chawla's responsibilities included the microgravity
experiments, for which the crew conducted nearly 80 experiments studying earth and space science,
advanced technology development, and astronaut health and safety.

After a 16 day scientific mission in space, on 1 February 2003, Columbia disintegrated over Texas
during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. All the crew in Columbia including Chawla died only 16
minutes prior to their scheduled landing. Investigation shows that this fatal accident
happened due to a damage in one of Columbia's wings caused by a piece of
insulating foam from the external fuel tank peeling off during the launch . During
the intense heat of re-entry, hot gases penetrated the interior of the wing, destroying the support
structure and causing the rest of the shuttle to break down.

Note :
When it says that "Determined to become an astronaut even in the face of the
space shuttle Challenger disaster on 28 January 1986 that led to the deaths of its seven crew
members, Chawla joined NASA in 1988," it means the following:
The space shuttle Challenger disaster, which occurred on January 28, 1986, resulted in the tragic loss of
all seven astronauts on board. Despite the devastating event, Kalpana Chawla remained resolute and
committed to pursuing her dream of becoming an astronaut.
Despite the risks and challenges associated with space exploration, Chawla's determination
remained unshaken. She decided to join NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in
1988. This indicates that even after witnessing a major space mission failure and the loss of lives, Chawla
was undeterred and determined to contribute to the field of space exploration and fulfill her aspirations
of becoming an astronaut.

When it says that "She began working as a Vice President where she did Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) research on vertical take-off and landing," it means the following:

After joining the organization as a Vice President, she started working in a role where she focused on a
specific area of research called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). CFD involves using
computer simulations and mathematical models to study the
behavior of fluids (such as gases or liquids) in motion. Her particular area
of research within CFD was related to vertical take-off and landing. This means she
studied and
analyzed the dynamics and aerodynamics of aircraft or vehicles that
have the capability to take off and land vertically, as opposed to traditional
horizontal take-off and landing methods.
By conducting CFD research on vertical take-off and landing, she likely aimed to improve the
understanding of the fluid dynamics involved in such operations. This research would have practical
applications in the development of aircraft or vehicles designed for vertical take-off and landing, such as
helicopters, tiltrotors, or vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

When it says, "You are just your intelligence," it means that your intelligence, or your
mental capabilities and abilities, is the defining aspect of your identity. The statement implies that
intelligence is the most important or primary characteristic that defines who you are as a person.

In this context, it suggests that one's intelligence is a central or sole factor in determining their
worth or value. It may imply that other aspects such as physical appearance, personality traits,
or talents are less significant in comparison to intelligence.
However, it's important to note that this statement is a generalization and may not encompass
the entirety of a person's identity or value. Human beings are complex and multifaceted, and
intelligence alone does not fully define or determine a person's worth, character, or potential.

When it says that "She was responsible for deploying the Spartan Satellite
which, however, malfunctioned, necessitating a spacewalk by Winston Scott and Tako Doi, two
of her fellow astronauts, to retrieve the satellite," it means the following:
She had the responsibility of deploying the Spartan Satellite during the mission. The Spartan
Satellite is a specific satellite that was meant to be deployed from the spacecraft into space.
However, unfortunately, the satellite experienced a malfunction or problem that prevented it
from functioning as intended.
As a result of the satellite malfunction, two of her fellow astronauts named Winston Scott and
Tako Doi had to perform a spacewalk. A spacewalk is when an astronaut leaves the spacecraft
and floats in space to perform tasks outside of it. In this case, Scott and Doi had to conduct a
spacewalk to retrieve the malfunctioning Spartan Satellite.
The purpose of the spacewalk was to physically go out into space, capture or retrieve the
malfunctioning satellite, and bring it back to the spacecraft for further analysis or repair. This
was necessary to address the issue with the satellite and potentially prevent any further
complications or risks associated with the malfunction.

explain the following text in simple term "She was

responsible for deploying the Spartan Satellite which
however malfunctioned, necessitating a spacewalk by
Winston Scott and Tako Doi, two of her fellow astronauts,
to retrieve the satellite. MEANS: She had a job to put the Spartan Satellite
into space during the mission. The Spartan Satellite is a special device that is supposed to work
in space. Unfortunately, something went wrong with the satellite, and it didn't work as it
should.
Because of the problem with the satellite, two of her astronaut colleagues named Winston Scott
and Tako Doi had to go outside of the spacecraft in space suits. This is called a spacewalk. They
had to do this to bring the broken satellite back to the spacecraft.
During the spacewalk, Scott and Doi had to carefully catch the malfunctioning satellite and bring
it back inside the spacecraft. This was important so that the satellite could be examined and
fixed if possible. The goal was to understand what went wrong and to make sure there wouldn't
be any more issues with it.

On January 16, 2003, Kalpana Chawla began a new mission as part of a team of six other
astronauts on the space shuttle Columbia. Unfortunately, this mission didn't turn out well and
faced a tragic fate.
The space shuttle Columbia was the spacecraft they were on. It was designed to take them into
space and complete various tasks and experiments. However, something went very wrong
during the mission, and the space shuttle encountered a severe problem.
As a result of this problem, the space shuttle Columbia was unable to return safely to Earth.
Tragically, all seven crew members, including Kalpana Chawla, lost their lives in the accident.
It was a very sad and unfortunate event because the mission that was meant to explore and
achieve important goals ended in a tragedy. The loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew
was a significant and heartbreaking event for the space exploration community.

When it says, "She was one of the mission specialists. Chawla's responsibilities
included the microgravity experiments, for which the crew conducted nearly 80 experiments
studying earth and space science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and
safety," it means the following:
Kalpana Chawla had a special role as one of the mission specialists on the space shuttle. Her
main task was to work on a particular set of experiments related to microgravity.
Microgravity refers to the condition in space where the force of gravity is much weaker than on
Earth. Chawla and the rest of the crew had the opportunity to conduct around 80 different
experiments during their mission. These experiments focused on studying various aspects of
both Earth and space science.
The experiments covered a wide range of topics, including understanding how things behave in
microgravity, developing new technologies for future space missions, and ensuring the health
and safety of astronauts. By conducting these experiments, Chawla and the crew aimed to learn
more about the effects of space on the human body, explore the possibilities of new
technologies, and deepen our understanding of the Earth and space. Chawla's contributions
were vital in advancing scientific knowledge and improving our capabilities for future space
exploration.

When it says, "After a 16-day scientific mission in space, on 1 February 2003,

Columbia disintegrated over Texas during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere," it means the
following:
The space shuttle Columbia had completed a 16-day mission in space, where the crew
conducted scientific experiments and carried out their tasks. However, tragedy struck on
February 1, 2003, during the shuttle's return to Earth.
During the process of re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, the space shuttle Columbia
encountered a catastrophic event. It broke apart or disintegrated while flying over the
state of Texas. This meant that the shuttle was destroyed and broke into many pieces in
the air.
This unfortunate event led to the loss of all seven crew members on board the Columbia,
including Kalpana Chawla. The disintegration of the shuttle was a devastating incident and a
significant tragedy in the history of space exploration.
The investigation that followed aimed to understand the cause of the disintegration and to
improve safety measures for future space missions. The incident highlighted the risks and
challenges associated with space travel and the importance of continuous improvement in
ensuring the safety of astronauts.

When it says, "Investigation shows that this fatal accident happened due to
damage in one of Columbia's wings caused by a piece of insulating foam from the external fuel
tank peeling off during the launch. During the intense heat of re-entry, hot gases penetrated the
interior of the wing, destroying the support structure and causing the rest of the shuttle to
break down," it means the following:
The investigation into the Columbia space shuttle accident revealed that the cause of the fatal
accident was related to damage in one of the wings. This damage occurred during the launch of
the shuttle.
During the launch, a piece of insulating foam that was meant to protect the external fuel tank
peeled off and struck one of the wings. This impact caused damage to the protective heat-
resistant tiles on the wing's surface.
The consequences of this damage became apparent during the re-entry phase of the mission.
As the shuttle re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, the intense heat generated during this
process caused hot gases to penetrate the compromised wing structure. As a result, the interior
of the wing was compromised, leading to the destruction of the support structure. This, in turn,
caused the disintegration of the rest of the shuttle, ultimately resulting in the tragic accident
and the loss of the crew.
The investigation's findings highlighted the importance of thorough safety measures and the
need to address potential risks and vulnerabilities throughout the entire mission, from launch to
re-entry. It led to improvements in the design, inspection, and maintenance of space shuttles to
prevent similar accidents in the future.